Supported Youth Volunteering Volunteering is a fantastic way to try something new, develop skills and encounter new experiences, and we aim to have opportunities to suit all young people keen to volunteer within a healthcare environment! Our supported volunteering opportunities provide experiences for young people aged 16-25 who may require a bit more help before independently volunteering. An interest in healthcare is a great bonus when volunteering with us, but as NHS Lothian are corporate parents, our main goal is to help young people overcome barriers by providing inclusive opportunities suitable for young people in need of extra support, and interested in developing skills and experience. Youth Volunteering Taster Programme Now accepting applications! The aim of this two-week structured programme is to give young people aged 16-25 the opportunity to try some of the varied and fulfilling volunteering opportunities we have across NHS Lothian, whilst learning more about available routes into a career with the NHS and developing a better understanding about what it’s like to be in a healthcare environment. This is a supported volunteering programme meaning applicants will be matched to experienced “lead” volunteers when on placement and to a Volunteer Manager on site for any queries, they will receive extra training days and will keep track of their progress through reflective log books. Above all we hope our Taster Programme volunteers will have an enjoyable time whilst building their confidence and trying new things. The Youth Volunteering Taster Programme will take place between Monday 6th October – Wednesday 22nd October 2025 at the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh. Applicants will carry out up to eight sessions of volunteering over this period, including training and some additional reflective activities. We require applicants to be available during the day for placement throughout the duration of the programme, so please make sure this is something you can commit to before applying. Recruitment for this programme is now OPEN, and will close at 5pm on Monday 15th September 2025. To apply, please return a completed application form to loth.youthvolunteering@nhs.scot. The application form can be downloaded here: Youth Taster programme 2025 application formDownload Please email the youth volunteering email address if you have any questions! Our impact reports below for information on previous taster programmes can be found here: Meaningful May 2024 impact report Summer Programme 2023 impact report Supported Mentoring Programme Applications are now open for our Youth Volunteer Supported Mentoring programme! We are accepting applications from young people aged 16-25 who experience barriers to volunteering/their next steps, or who may require some extra support as they start their volunteering journey. Applicants will be matched with a Mentor Volunteer who is experienced in their NHS volunteering role, and trained to support young people to flourish in their roles. We have a pool of Mentor Volunteers who are based in various roles in sites across NHS Lothian. The young person and their mentor will volunteer together weekly for up to 6 months. The general commitment will be two hours a week – with flexible options considered if needed. We hope this opportunity will help young people to build their confidence and communication skills, try something new and volunteer in what may traditionally feel like an intense environment in a more supported way. Volunteering roles are generally either ward-based or foyer-based. There are opportunities for independent volunteering if the young person progresses well and feels ready – goals can be set with them at the beginning to ensure they get the best out of the experience. Admittance onto the programme will be subject to an initial (informal, values-based) interview with myself and a satisfactory PVG check, arranged and paid for by NHS Lothian. Application forms for the Mentoring programme can be found at the link below, and should be returned to loth.youthvolunteering@nhs.scot Youth Volunteering Mentor Programme application formDownload
